The Bobcat Charleston Challenge came down to the wire but they did it. North Habersham Middle School students reached their online fundraising goal of $11,858 with two days to spare!
Because all of the money was raised, every 8th grader at North Habersham Middle will now be able to afford to go on the class field trip to Charleston this spring.
“…there are no words of gratitude I can offer that would equal the thanks in our hearts for your deep investment in these kids’ lives!”
No Child Left Behind
North Habersham Middle School teacher Heather Hawkins and the school’s Builders Club spearheaded fundraising efforts to cover the cost of the trip for the school’s most impoverished students. They held a yard sale, candy sale and sponsored a movie night to raise money for the trip. Students also mailed out letters to local businesses requesting support. A few businesses gave.
Upon learning that the nearly $12,000 goal had been met, Hawkins wrote the following to donors:
“We are so very grateful to you for your support in fund raising for our NHMS students. I wish you could know how far your gift will go in helping to break the a cycle for some of our most needy students. For many of our kids, their stories involve sitting back and watching other, more advantaged students go on family vacations and share in school experiences that they could never afford. YOU have helped to provide opportunities for our kids that will open doors for our students who would never otherwise have such opportunities. In addition, you have provided them with the concept of knowing they have community-wide support in pursuing their dreams for a better life and offering opportunity to break the cycle of sadness and building joy in their lives!
I feel very selfish in knowing story after story of the kids who you have sponsored! From the kid who lost his father recently, to the fellow whose mom fights addiction; from a dear girl who is hoping one day her mom will love her, to a girl who fights for equal opportunities as her friends despite her socio-economic situation…Story after story after story…You have, and will for a life-time, made a difference in my students’ lives; and there are no words of gratitude I can offer that would equal the thanks in our hearts for your deep investment in these kids’ lives!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hawkins
Lessons learned
Hawkins established the online fundraiser at donorschoose.org in September. It took exactly three months, 99 donors and matching grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Burlington and the Morgridge Family Foundation to make it happen.
Hawkins stresses it also took the hard work and caring hearts of North Habersham’s students, faculty and staff.
The trip is scheduled March 21-23, 2016 and will include walk-through history lessons on Colonial America, an overnight camping trip aboard the USS Yorktown and a visit to Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. In referring to Charleston Hawkins says, “This great city shares a common goal with us in our vision for building a community of wisdom, strength, forgiveness, unshaken hope, and a promise to make a difference in the future of our world.”
The desire to provide economically disadvantaged students the same opportunity to experience this type of learning experience is what fueled the Bobcat Charleston Challenge. Hawkins adds, the trip “will enrich the deeper lessons we teach toward knowledge, compassion, citizenship, tolerance, and personal growth.”
While the trip to Charleston is still months away, the lessons Hawkins envisions it teaching are already being taught. Tolerance…citizenship…compassion. Such are the lessons learned when people work together to help those in need.
Way to go Bobcats!
Updated on 12/29/15
